My parents publicly liked my sister Madeline more than I did when I was growing up. While they gave her lots of attention, I felt like I wasn’t wanted. This situation got worse when Madeline got pregnant at age 16. Our parents were so happy, but I knew I had to take care of everything.
As Madeline’s pregnancy went on, I took care of her. After the baby was born, I took care of her son Brandon while she went out and finally left him. Even though they said they would help, my parents didn’t. I dropped out of school to take care of Brandon while working part-time and getting my GED.
We built a new life together over the years. I went to college online, made friends who were there for me, and finally met my partner, Dallas. We thought about getting married in the future.
Then Madeline came back and said she had to see Brandon. I didn’t give up because I knew she had left him. Dallas helped me formally get custody of Brandon, keeping him safe from her and our parents, who aren’t there for him.
This event taught me important lessons. Favoritism hurts family relationships, and there are times when you need to get away from bad relationships. I found love and support with Dallas and my friends. I’m sure Brandon will never have to go through what I did.
As Brandon’s formal mother, I’ve made his home a loving place where he can’t feel the pain of my past.
